100 years of reading

Marie Stabler (front), trustee for the Mason Memorial Public Library in Buda, looks at the original deed to the library building, while library Director Jeannie Jarigese (back, left) and board trustee Shirley Taylor look at other historical information on the library. The 100th anniversary of the library will be celebrated with an open house from 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at the library. The open house will include refreshments and entertainment by storyteller Mick Henneberry of Princeton.

Caption

(BCR photos/Donna Barker)

Mason Memorial Public Library's Assistant Library Director Angie Joos (from left), board member Shirley Taylor, library director Jeannie Jarigese and board member Marie Stabler pose for a photo in front of the library, located at 104 W. Main St. in Buda. The staff and board will host an open house from 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 in honor of the library's 100th anniversary.

BUDA — One hundred years of impacting the community through books, books and more books will be celebrated at the Jan. 30 open house at the Mason Memorial Public Library of Buda.

Library Board President Mickey White said the open house will be a great time to visit the library.

“We are very proud of our library and the services that are available, and we would encourage people to visit the library during our open house,” White said.

The open house is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, with Princeton storyteller Mick Henneberry performing from 7 to 8 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Library Director Jeannie Jarigese said the library has a collection of about 16,000 books, 400 DVDs and 500 VHS tapes. In addition, there are three computers for the public to use for Internet searches. Also, there are a couple other computers which can be used for games. Additional books can be ordered on loan through the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), Jarigese said.

Long-time Buda residents Shirley Taylor and her sister, Marie Stabler, are two of the seven library board members who govern the operation of the library. Taylor has served on the board since 1975, her sister has served most recently since 1982.

In describing the importance of a library to a community, Taylor said a library should be a place to get books and information and to visit with the library director. The library should be a resource center for the whole community, she said.

Stabler said she remembers as a little girl coming into the library and having to be very quiet. Today, there’s been a far change away from that quiet atmosphere, she said.

“Now people come in, and it’s like a party sometimes,” she said.

Jarigese agreed, saying she wants people to enjoy themselves when they come into the library. However, if there are people who are studying, she tries to tone things down a bit.

In addition to all the available books, DVDs and VHS tapes, the library also houses some original artwork and paintings done by Buda area residents through the years. There is also a lot of historical information at the library, which is especially helpful since the village does not have a historical society, Taylor said.

The Mason Memorial Public Library has about 250 card holders, with additional non-residents cards available for those living outside village limits. The library is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, and from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. The library is closed Thursday.

On a personal note, Jarigese said being a librarian at the Mason Memorial Public Library is all she ever wanted to do, which is what she’s done for the past 21 years. She comes from a long line of people who loved the library. Her great- great-grandmother had Card No. 1 for the Buda library, she said.

Looking ahead to the Jan. 30 open house, Jarigese encouraged area residents to come out and see for themselves all the accomplishments at the library and to take advantage of its available services.